How to Keep Your Tenant Happy

It' not all that hard to keep a tenant happy, it's not a cake walk either. Here are some simple, basic suggestions that in my opinion will keep your apartment rented. Hopefully, the relationship between tenant and landlord will be such a good one that the tenant renews their lease time and again.

First impressions are often lasting impressions. So if the apartment or house you are renting out to a tenant is clean and in good working order that is a good first start. For instance, don't tell the tenant upon signing the lease that the apartment will be freshly painted and professionally cleaned by moving day and then it's not. I know someone who recently rented an apartment where the hot water heater had just broken and needed a replacement immediately. It was promised of course but guess what? No deal. It took two weeks for that water heater to be replaced. I doubt they will be renewing their lease.

Next on the "happy" list for a tenant would be customer service. Should the plumbing or stove need tending to, the more prompt the landlord is in getting it taken care of the happier the tenant is going to be. Your landlord is responsible in most cases for the walkway to be shoveled in a snow storm. Well if the landlord sleeps in on snow day and you have to get out to work, slipping and sliding as you walk to your car, it doesn't leave a good taste in your mouth does it? A well lit entry to the apartment is important too for safety and security.

Another plus for a landlord is privacy. This may sound obvious but more times than not, particularly in two or three family houses, it can become problematic. I once rented an otherwise lovely apartment. It was spacious, plenty of closets, working appliances, all the amenities I required and more. The one thing lacking was privacy. It wasn't just that they could hear me and I could hear them up above me, but they kept an "eye" on all my visitors, and commented. Not until I moved in did I realized that we would be sharing a mailbox. Consequently they knew who and where all my mail was coming from. It wasn't unlike living with my parents, only I was 50 plus years old. That lack of privacy lead me to give up a beautiful apartment as soon as I could.

The list is simple. Present your renter with a clean apartment, everything in working order and kept that way on a timely basis, safe walkways which are kept free of ice and snow and are well lit, and treat your renter like the adult they hopefully are.